West Central Reporter

Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer introduced HB2740 in the Illinois House on Feb. 5, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Wildlife Code. Allows unmanned aerial vehicles to be used for the tracking of wounded animals in the course of hunting."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Wildlife Code to allow the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for tracking wounded animals in the course of hunting. The amendment specifies that it remains unlawful to use unmanned aircraft for taking, pursuing, or intentionally harassing wildlife, except in the context of tracking wounded game. Additionally, the bill maintains prohibitions against several other methods of taking wildlife, including the use of poisons, spears, and high-gauge shotguns, among others. It also clarifies conditions under which firearms and vehicles can be used in hunting, preserving various existing wildlife protections, while introducing this new provision for drone-assisted tracking.

Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer has proposed another 26 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Davidsmeyer graduated from Miami the University of Ohio in 2002 with a BA.

Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 100th House District. He replaced previous state representative Jim Watson in 2012.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB2740	02/05/2025	Amends the Wildlife Code. Allows unmanned aerial vehicles to be used for the tracking of wounded animals in the course of hunting.
HB2734	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax deduction for the amount of overtime compensation that is paid to the taxpayer during the taxable year and that is included in the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income. Effective immediately.
HB2735	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax deduction for gratuities that are included in the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income. Effective immediately.
HB2736	02/05/2025	Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that, on and after July 1, 2025, marine fuel is exempt from the tax imposed under the Act. Provides that "marine fuel" means motor fuel specially formulated to be used in the propulsion of watercraft. Effective immediately.
HB2737	02/05/2025	Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. Provides that relevant professional schools may provide a maximum of 50% of the hours required for theory portions of the practicum through online or distance study and may provide that a maximum of 10% of the required hours may be completed in an internship program and supervised by a licensed professional, subject to the rules of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that a person may receive a license as a cosmetologist if the person has completed an online course approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and 750 hours of hands-on training supervised by a licensed cosmetologist extending over a period of not less than 8 months nor more than 7 consecutive years and the person has completed the other requirements for licensure under the Act. Provides that hands-on training conducted under the laws of another state or territory of the United States or of a foreign country or province shall be credited toward the 750 hours of hands-on training required for licensure if the training was supervised by a cosmetologist licensed under the laws of another state or territory of the United States or foreign country or province.
HB2738	02/05/2025	Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of the Act, or of any licensing act under the purview of the Division of Professional Regulation of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the application fee for renewal of a license issued by the Division shall be no higher than one-half of the application fee for initial issuance of the same license class at the time of license renewal.
HB2739	02/05/2025	Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning a school board's suspension or expulsion of pupils, provides that a student who is determined to have committed sexual violence, sexual assault, or sexual activity with an individual without the individual's consent at a school, a school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of not less than one year. Effective immediately.
HB1765	01/27/2025	Amends the Election Code. Removes a provision that provides that the State Board of Elections shall adjust the amounts of the contribution limits for inflation.
HB1766	01/27/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of unlawful publication of criminal activity. Provides that a person commits the offense when he or she knowingly makes a video record or live video of a crime while the crime is being committed and transmits or uploads the video record or live video of the crime to a social media site. Provides that a person who commits unlawful publication of criminal activity shall be sentenced to the same penalty as the penalty for the crime being transmitted or uploaded to a social media site. Provides exceptions. Defines terms.
HB1767	01/27/2025	Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that each Firearm Owner's Identification Card must have the issuance date and expiration date boldly and conspicuously displayed on the face of the card.
HB1768	01/27/2025	Creates the Public Safety and Justice Privacy Act. Defines terms. Provides that government agencies, persons, businesses, and associations shall not publicly post or display publicly available content that includes a law enforcement officer's, prosecutor's, public defender's, or probation officer's ("officials") personal information, provided that the government agency, person, business, or association has received a written request from the person that it refrain from disclosing the person's personal information. Provides injunctive or declaratory relief if the Act is violated. Includes procedures for a written request. Provides that it is a Class 3 felony for any person to knowingly publicly post on the Internet the personal information of an official or an official's immediate family under specified circumstances. Excludes criminal penalties for employees of government agencies who publish information in good faith during the ordinary course of carrying out public functions. Provides that the Act and any rules adopted to implement the Act shall be construed broadly to favor the protection of the personal information of officials. Amends various Acts and Codes allowing an official to list a business address rather than a home address and makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
HB1769	01/27/2025	Amends the Election Code. Requires Voters Identification Cards for those who do not have an acceptable photo ID. Sets forth requirements and exemptions. Provides that any person desiring to vote shall present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity a government-issued photo identification card or his or her Voter Identification Card.
HB1456	01/21/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article and the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Removes a provision requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to cover kidney transplantation services for noncitizens under the medical assistance program. Removes provisions permitting the Department to provide medical services to noncitizens 42 years of age and older. Removes a provision requiring the Department to cover immunosuppressive drugs and related services associated with post kidney transplant management for noncitizens. Removes provisions concerning the adoption of emergency rules and other matters regarding medical coverage or services for noncitizens.
HB1409	01/16/2025	Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Adds an Article concerning the removal of unauthorized persons. Defines "unauthorized person" as a person who occupies an uninhabited or vacant residential premises without any current or prior agreement or consent of the owner or an authorized agent of the owner, whether written or oral, concerning the use of the residential premises. Provides that the owner of residential premises, or the owner's authorized agent, may initiate the investigation of and request the removal of an unauthorized person or persons from the residential premises by filing with the circuit court a complaint and a verified motion for a mandatory injunction restoring possession of the residential property to the owner or lawful occupant. Provides that the court shall conduct a hearing on the motion as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the next court day after the filing of the motion, unless a later date is requested by the moving party. Provides that, no later than 24 hours after receipt of an order for mandatory injunction, a sheriff or deputy sheriff, shall: (1) remove the person or persons from the residential premises, with or without arresting the person or persons; and (2) order the person or persons to remain off the residential premises or be subject to arrest for criminal trespass. Provides a statutory form for the verified motion and adds provisions governing: falsification of a verified motion; service of summons; defenses; judgment; and execution of orders.
HB1410	01/16/2025	Creates the Taxpayers' Fiscal Charter Act. Provides for a discretionary spending freeze for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Sets forth requirements to increase discretionary spending beginning in fiscal year 2028. Requires any new spending proposed by the General Assembly in addition to existing obligations to be accompanied by a proposed source of revenue to pay for the proposed spending or specified cuts necessary to offset the proposed spending. Prohibits unfunded mandates. Requires the publishing of certain information before voting on or enacting an appropriations bill. Effective immediately.
HB1411	01/16/2025	Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning bullying prevention, provides that "policy on bullying" means a bullying prevention policy that is age and developmentally appropriate. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1412	01/16/2025	Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall allow for an alternative rural staffing model for vehicle service providers that serve a rural or semi-rural population of 10,000 or fewer inhabitants and exclusively use volunteers, paid-on-call, or part-time employees, or a combination thereof (now, the use of part-time employees is not an option). Effective immediately.
HB1413	01/16/2025	Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Revenue shall not require a taxpayer, whether an individual, not-for-profit, or business entity, to collect and furnish to the Department individual tax identification information from vendors that participate in an event hosted or sponsored by the taxpayer. Effective immediately.
HB1414	01/16/2025	Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if a taxing district grants a property tax abatement for a defined period of time measured in levy years, then, for the first levy year after the expiration of the abatement, the district's aggregate extension base shall be the taxing district's last preceding aggregate extension, subject to certain adjustments, plus the amount of the expired abatement for the previous levy year. Effective immediately.
HB1415	01/16/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes changes concerning the list of delinquent taxes. Requires the sheriff, on or before May 15 of each year, to present the delinquent lists to the county treasurer or county collector for examination. Effective immediately.
HB1416	01/16/2025	Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a person who hosts or registers an Internet domain name to a person located in this State shall not sell or lease the Internet domain name to another person for a period of 5 years after the buyer or lessee ends his or her ownership or lease of the Internet domain name. Provides that a buyer or lessee who ends his or her ownership or lease agreement shall have the right to repurchase or renew the lease for the Internet domain name during the 5-year period for the cost the buyer or lessee would have owed to the host or registrar if the ownership or lease agreement had not ended. Provides that any person who violates these provisions commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.
HB1417	01/16/2025	Amends the Illinois Athletic Trainers Practice Act, the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Dietitian Nutritionist Practice Act, the Massage Therapy Practice Act, the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act, the Pharmacy Practice Act, the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004, the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985, and the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. Provides the maximum fees for original licensure and renewal of licensure for professions licensed under the Acts. Provides that the total fees required by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to enter a profession shall not exceed double the original license fee.
HB1418	01/16/2025	Amends the Cemetery Oversight Act. Provides that a cemetery with an all-volunteer board and an annual budget of less than $100,000 shall be partially exempt from the requirements of this Act. Provides that a cemetery that falls under this category shall make available and periodically update maps of the cemetery property that include locations of the graves of individuals in the cemetery; post signs in English and Spanish in each cemetery office that contain the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's consumer hotline number, but does not need certain other signs; and post the hours and rules of the cemetery. Effective immediately.
HB1315	01/14/2025	Amends the Wildlife Code. In provisions concerning special deer, turkey, and combination hunting licenses, provides that one or more of the following shall constitute evidence of land ownership: a current property tax bill for the property showing that the hunter is the owner of the property; a current income tax return filed with the Department of Revenue by the hunter showing that the hunter is the owner of the property; or a current Conservation Reserve Program credit award from the United States Department of Agriculture, naming the individual hunter as the credit awardee.
HB1316	01/14/2025	Amends the School Code. Requires all school officials to immediately notify the office of the principal in the event that they: observe any person in possession of a firearm on school grounds; become aware of any person in possession of a firearm on school grounds; or become aware of any threat of gun violence on school grounds. If there is a report filed notifying a local law enforcement agency of any of such event, requires the principal to immediately notify the student's parent or guardian and, in coordination with the local law enforcement agency, to attempt to meet with the student's parent or guardian to ensure the student does not have access to a firearm. Effective immediately.
HB1317	01/14/2025	Repeals the Illinois TRUST Act. Makes corresponding changes in the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Effective immediately.
HB1318	01/14/2025	Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that a Firearm Owner's Identification Card shall expire on the cardholder's birthday occurring immediately after the 10-year period from the date of issuance. Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that a concealed carry license shall expire on the licensee's birthday occurring immediately after the 5-year period from the date of issuance.
HB1319	01/14/2025	Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that an association or other entity that has, as one of its purposes, promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within the State shall exempt students who are unable to attend the required number of practices to participate in an interscholastic game, match, or other competition due to activities connected to military service from the practice requirement.
HB1320	01/14/2025	Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that each Department shall restore, within 18 months after closure, the site of a facility operated by the Department to its original condition before the facility was built if the facility is closed and no longer is maintained as a facility. Provides that the cost of the restoration of the site shall be paid by the Department that operated the facility.